U.S. patent application number 09/778642 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-24 for bracket.
Invention is credited to LeCher, Noel, Robertson, Jeffrey S..
Application Number | 20020155784 09/778642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26923466 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020155784 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robertson, Jeffrey S. ; et
al. |
October 24, 2002 |
Bracket
Abstract
The present invention is an A-frame bracket having a rectangular
top, and two rectangular side walls that each extend at an angle
downwardly from the rectangular top, wherein each side wall has an
integrally formed flange forming an "L"-shaped wall for receiving
wooden legs that form an A-frame.
Inventors: |
Robertson, Jeffrey S.;
(Canton, GA) ; LeCher, Noel; (Kennesaw,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA, SUITE 5200
600 PEACHTREE STREET , NE
ATLANTA
GA
30308-2216
US
|
Family ID: |
26923466 |
Appl. No.: |
09/778642 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60229623 |
Aug 31, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
446/476 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 9/00 20130101; E04B
1/2608 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/476 |
International
Class: |
A63H 003/52 |
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A bracket for play structures, comprising: a. a rectangular top;
b. a first and second side wall attached to the rectangular top; c.
a first flange attached to the first side wall; and d. a second
flange attached to the second side wall.
2. The bracket of claim 1, wherein the bracket is formed from a
one-piece construction containing no weldments.
3. The bracket of claim 2, wherein the first and second side walls
each extend at an angle downwardly from the rectangular top.
4. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the first and second side walls
are in the shape of a square.
5. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the first and second sidewalls
are in the shape of a rectangle.
6. The bracket of claim 3, wherein the flanges extend perpendicular
to the side walls.
7. The bracket of claim 2, wherein the bracket is formed from heavy
gauge metal.
8. The bracket of claim 1, further comprising at least one bolt
hole in the rectangular top.
9. The bracket of claim 8, further comprising at least one bolt
hole in the first and second side walls.
10. The bracket of claim 9, further comprising at least one bolt
hole in the first and second flange.
11. A play structure, comprising: a. at least one cross beam; b.
wooden legs forming at least one A-frame to support the at least
one cross beam; and c. a bracket to secure the wooden legs to the
at least one cross beam, the bracket comprising; (1) a rectangular
top; (2) a first and second side wall attached to the rectangular
top; (3) a first flange attached to the first side wall; and (4) a
second flange attached to the second side wall.
12. The play structure of claim 11, wherein the bracket is formed
from a one-piece construction containing no weldments.
13. The play structure of claim 12, wherein the first and second
sidewalls each extend at an angle downward from the rectangular
top.
14. The play structure of claim 13, wherein the first and second
side walls are in the shape of a square.
15. The play structure of claim 13, wherein the first and second
side walls are in the shape of a rectangle.
16. The play structure of claim 13, wherein the flanges extend
perpendicular to the side walls.
17. The play structure of claim 12, wherein the bracket is formed
from heavy gauge metal.
18. The play structure of claim 11, further comprising at least one
bolt hole in the rectangular top.
19. The play structure of claim 18, further comprising at least one
bolt hole in the first and second side walls.
20. The play structure of claim 19, further comprising at least one
bolt hole in the first and second flange.
21. A method for constructing a play structure using a one piece
bracket, the bracket comprising a rectangular top, a first and
second rectangular side wall each extending at an angle downwardly
from the top and a first flange extending perpendicularly from the
first side wall and a second flange extending perpendicularly from
the second side wall so as to form an L-shaped side wall, the
method comprising: a. securing an overhead beam to the upper
surface of the rectangular top of the bracket; b. securing a first
wooden member within the L-shaped structure of the bracket formed
from the first side wall and first flange; c. securing a second
wooden member within the L-shaped structure of the bracket formed
from the second side wall and second flange.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the securing of the overhead
beam is done using a set of bolts.
23. The play structure of claim 21, wherein the securing of the
first and second wooden members is done using a set of bolts
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under U.S. law to
provisional U.S. patent application serial No. 60/229,623, filed
Aug. 31, 2000 and which is incorporated in its entirety by this
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to hardware for connecting wooden
members in rigid relation in general, and in particular to an
A-frame bracket for securing A-frame members to an overhead beam in
playground equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Play structures for the entertainment and exercise of
children have long been in use. Particularly popular with children
has been the swing set which consists of an overhead beam supported
on opposite ends by frame members with chairs or seats suspended
from the overhead member on chains or ropes. Swing sets or other
play structures may be constructed of metal or plastic, but metal
is costly and prone to rust, and plastic tends to lack the
necessary strength to stand up to heavy use by children. Swing sets
may also be constructed from modem weather-resistant treated timber
which is strong and durable and does not require painting. Wooden
sets present a rugged and attractive appearance and are not subject
to rusting.
[0004] Because of the bulk and weight of assembled play structures
they are rarely shipped from the manufacturer in assembled form,
but are often sold as kits for home assembly by the consumer.
Because the swing set features the intersection of a number of
angled beams, fabrication of swing sets from standard timber
lengths without specialized hardware has been restricted to
professional carpenters and skilled hobbyists. A play set must be
rigidly braced and the structure must be capable of withstanding
forces and loads in addition to those due to the swinging motions
of the suspended seats.
[0005] All-wood playsets have long been known to the art, but wood
joinery requires advanced carpentry skill. Previous hardware kits
for constructing wooden play sets are also known.
[0006] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,309 to Baer discloses a
swing assembly hardware kit. The kit includes 4 brackets for
joining together the A-frame to the overhead beam at each end of
the swing. The use of multiple brackets in joining the A-frame to
the overhead beam leads to several disadvantages. First, the
placement of the brackets becomes critical because each bracket
must align with the other brackets. In addition, a multi-bracket
system lacks the necessary integrity to properly secure the A-frame
to the overhead beam. Moreover, as forces are exerted upon the
swing set, the connection may loosen due to the multi bracket
set-up.
[0007] Another example of a bracket system used to join an A-frame
to an overhead beam for a swing set can be found in U.S. Pat. No.
5,364,312 to Cunard et al. Cunard discloses a two piece bracket
system. The first bracket is a trapezoidal stamped metal plate with
side flanges and an outwardly extending top flange. The second
bracket is an elongated stamped metal part with an inverted
U-shaped cross section formed from a top rectangular surface and
two generally triangular side walls (webbing). The bracketing
system disclosed in Cunard suffers from the same disadvantages as
the bracketing system disclosed in Baer. For example, because the
A-frame bracket is formed from two separate pieces, it lacks the
stability provided by a one piece system. In using the Cunard
bracket, each A-frame member is only secured to a flat flange on
the second bracket with the trapezoidal bracket mounted opposite
the second bracket, as shown in FIG. 5 of the Cunard patent.
However, in this configuration there is no direct connectivity
between the two separate brackets thereby resulting in an inferior
weak joint in comparison to the one piece bracket design of the
present invention. Thus, as the swing set is used over time the
brackets forming the joint may become loose from the forces exerted
upon the play set by the user. Furthermore, a two piece system also
is more difficult to install because the brackets must be properly
aligned to gain maximum stability. Finally, the Cunard design
provides screw holes that align close to the edges of the members.
This configuration may cause the wood members to split or splinter
either during installation or during actual use of the play set
resulting in a weak unstable connection.
[0008] Thus, what is needed is a one piece A-frame bracket that
provides maximum stability, has no welded joints, is made from
heavy gauge metal and is user friendly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] An A-frame bracket 10 of the present invention is used to
secure A-frame members of a swing set to an overhead cross beam as
shown in FIG. 3. Bracket 10 is made from a one-piece construction
of heavy gauge metal, which contains no welded joints. The unibody
is stamp forged and the exterior is completely powder coated and
baked at 300 degrees for maximum longevity.
[0010] Looking to FIG. 1, bracket 10 has a rectangular top 12, and
two rectangular side walls, 14 and 16, that each extend at an angle
downwardly from rectangular top 12. The downwardly sloping side
walls 14 and 16 each have an integrally formed flange 15 and 17.
Flanges 15 and 17 may be of any shape, but in the preferred
embodiment, flanges 15 and 17 are rectangular in shape. Top 12,
sides 14 and 16 and flanges 15 and 17 each have holes 13 stamped
through the metal material for receiving large bolts. The wood
members are held in place by drilling matching bolt holes through
the wood for receiving the bolts. Since equivalent bolt holes must
be placed into the wood members, the placement of the bolt holes in
bracket 10 is important, so as not to cause the wood to split.
Therefore, bolt holes 13 are centered on bracket 10, so that the
corresponding bolt holes in the wood members lie on the center line
of the member and not along the edges of a member, as seen in FIGS.
2 and 3.
[0011] FIG. 3 discloses how bracket 10 is configured to secure the
A-frame members 23 and 24 to overhead beam 21. First, overhead beam
21 is secured to the upper side 12a of top 12 using, for example,
multiple nut and bolt combinations 22. A-frame members 23 and 24
are then secured within the "L" shape structure formed by side
walls 14 and 16 and flanges 15 and 17, respectively, using, for
example, several nut and bolt combinations 22. In this
configuration, the 4.times.4 A-frame members can be drawn into the
comer of the "L" shaped structure creating a secure stable
mounting. This is possible because two sets of nut and bolt
combinations are used to secure and draw each A-frame member 23 and
24 in the "L" shaped structure, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0012] Additionally, A-frame bracket 10 provides a secure and
stable connection by balancing various forces. For example, A-frame
members 23 and 24 exert an upward vertical force (shown by arrows
B) that opposes a downward vertical force (shown by arrow C).
Moreover, because bracket 10 consists of a unibody design, it
facilitates a low cost, highly effective device for erecting play
systems.
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